John Carden/Portsmouth Herald photo
Portsmouth High School quarterback Donovan Phanor, center, evades a tackle by Milford’s Joe Albina during Saturday’s Division III semifinal football game in Milford.

MILFORD — No, the Portsmouth High School football team’s offense didn’t click on all cylinders during Saturday’s 7-0 Division III semifinal victory over Milford, but the return of its dynamic quarterback did a lot to boost the team’s confidence.

Junior Donovan Phanor missed the final two games of the regular season after hurting his knee in Portsmouth’s 24-8 victory over Pembroke three weeks ago. Phanor re-

turned on Saturday and led

the third-seeded Clippers on a scoring drive on the first possession of the game, capping it with a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jake Becker.

Phanor finished the day 6-of-16 passing for 53 yards with an interception, and rushed for 108 yards on 25 carries.

“I’ve been itching to get back on this field ever since Pembroke; having practice time with my team, it was incredible. I loved it, ” Phanor said. “The knee feels good and I’m happy to be back with my team.”

While the Clippers didn’t take full advantage of four Milford turnovers, Phanor did enough to keep the ball moving when his team needed it. He had three runs of more than 10 yards in the fourth quarter, including a 15-yard run that helped set up a 21-yard field goal attempt by Chris Main with 2:40 left in the game.

Main’s kick was blocked, but Joseph Auger seal the victory when he intercepted Milford’s Harrison Urda.

“Donovan is a very smart kid who had worked very hard since he was a freshman, so to have him back was very, very important,” Portsmouth coach Bill Murphy said. “He made some great plays today. We didn’t have a great offensive day, but he carried us.”

Senior wide receiver/defensive lineman Colin MacDonald returned to the Clippers himself from an injury a couple of weeks ago, but said Saturday was the first time he felt 100 percent.

“We didn’t pass the ball much today, but it feels great to have him back,” MacDonald said. “With his legs, he extends plays and make things happen.”

“He is a big part of our team; he did most of his damage with his legs today, scrambling, getting out of the pocket when pressure happens,” two-way senior lineman Rick Holt said. “He just adds another element.”

Now, the defending Division III champion Clippers (8-2) will play in their fifth straight championship on Saturday at home against No. 4 Goffstown (6-3). The Grizzlies advanced by upsetting top-seeded Souhegan, 54-53, when quarterback Connor Benjamin ran in for a two-point conversion in overtime. Benjamin completed 15 passes on the day for 306 yards and added 162 yards on the ground.

Portsmouth defeated Goffstown, 56-22, at the end of September. This will be the first time Portsmouth has hosted a championship since moving to Division III prior to the 2006 season. Portsmouth lost at Plymouth (2006) and Souhegan (2008, 2009 and 2010) before its 41-6 victory at Bedford last season.

Phanor said he can’t imagine what the atmosphere will be like on Saturday at Tom Daubney Field.

“Being able to play at home is huge, because I know they don’t like having to trek to Milford or Souhegan every single time; playing at home is going to be incredible,” he said. “I know it’s going to be something like I’ve never experienced before, but I’m ready for it.”